Fatale #1

Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips return to give us a new noir mystery with Fatale. Or story begins with a funeral of Dominic Raines and the introduction of Nicolas Lash and the mysterious woman who will change his life forever.

While performing his duties as the executive of Raines' estate Nicolas discovers an unpublished manuscript and a group of men who appear to want him dead. Saved by the mysterious Jo, Nic is left with far more questions than answers waking up days later in a hospital with only the manuscript to guide him through the odd series of events he's somehow become lost in.

I'm unsure how the occult and mystical elements presented in the first issue will work themselves into the story, but as a first issue it's a great read. The comic is structured to feature story and character, packed with panels (and only a single full-page splash page). You're certainly getting your money's worth. Best of the week.

[Image, $3.50]